Once, trains chugged right through the heart of Kalispell, making it a bustling railroad hub and commercial center in Northwest Montana. A spur line linked the town to Somers on Flathead Lake, where passengers and freight moved daily between Kalispell’s Great Northern Depot and the steamboat terminal. 

Though the trains stopped running decades ago and the tracks removed, their impact still echoes today. 

At the Northwest Montana History Museum, visitors can now step back in time through a detailed model railroad display as part of an exhibit highlighting the region’s timber industry roots. 

Find out about the volunteers who made the display happen with Daily Inter Lake's story Traveling Back in Time. Read Heidi Desch's full story online. 

The Northwest Montana History Museum is located at 124 Second Ave. E. in Kalispell. For more information, visit nwmthistory.org.

A big thank you to our headline sponsor for the News Now podcast, Loren's Auto Repair! They combine skill with integrity resulting in auto service & repair of the highest caliber. Discover them in Ashley Square Mall at 1309 Hwy 2 West in Kalispell Montana, or learn more at lorensauto.com.

This summer, we followed the Brist family from their fifth-generation Montana farm to the bright lights of the Northwest Montana Fair. From early morning chores to the intensity of the show ring, their journey shows the hard work, tradition, and bittersweet goodbyes that come with raising livestock. Discover Season 4 of our Deep Dive podcast, From Farm to Fair — coming Sunday, September 21st! 

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